Biology

The heart is a hollow muscular organ located at the thoracic cavity.
This organ pumps blood

throughout the body.
Parts of the Heart

1. Right atrium- this chamber receives deoxygenated blood from the rest of the body.
2. Tricuspid valve- the valve that separates the right atrium from the right ventricle.
3. Right ventricle- this chamber pumps deoxygenated blood towards the pulmonary circuit.
4. Pulmonary semilunar valve- this valve opens to the pulmonary artery.
5. Pulmonary artery- carries deoygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.
6. Pulmonary vein- returns oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.
7. Left atrium- this chamber receives oxygenated blood from the lungs.
8. Bicuspid valve- this valve separates the left atrium from the left ventricle.
9. Left ventricle- this chamber pumps oxygenated blood towards the systemic circuit.
10. Aortic semilunar valve- this valve opens to the aorta.
11. Aorta-carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
12. Superior vena cava- returns deoxygenated blood from the upper part of the body.
13. Inferior vena cava- returns deoxygenated blood from the lower part of the body.
14. Septum- this separates the left and right atria and the left and right ventricles.
15. Coronary artery- this supplies oxygenated blood to the heart muscle.
16. Coronary vein- this returns deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle to the right atrium.
17. Myocardium- this membrane surrounds the heart and protects it from outside pressure.
18. Sinoatrial node- this node is located in the right atrium and sets the pace of heart beat.
Blood flow through the heart
Blood from different parts of the body returns to the heart via the superior vena cava and
inferior vena cava. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps the blood
towards the right ventricle. The tricuspid valve prevents backflow towards the right atrium. The right
ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood to the pulmonary circuit. Blood passes through the pulmonary
semilunar valve to the pulmonary artery. The pulmonary artery delivers deoxygenated blood to the
lungs. Gas exchange in the lungs brings oxygen into the blood. This blood is then carried by the
pulmonary veins back to the heart. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and is
pumped into the left ventricle. The bicuspid valve prevents backflow into the left atrium. The left
ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the systemic circuit. Blood passes through the aortic semilunar
valve into the aorta. The aorta then delivers oxygenated blood to different parts of the body.
Arteries, veins and capillaries
Arteries deliver oxygen- rich blood from the heart to the body. Arteries branch out into smaller
arterioles and end up in the capillaries. It is in the capillaries where gas and nutrient exchange takes
place. Oxygen and nutrients from the blood diffuse through the capillary wall into surrounding tissue.
Waste products and carbon dioxide diffuse through the capillary wall into the blood in order to be
excreted. Blood from the capillaries exits through the venules, then, the venules merge into larger
veins. Veins carry oxygen- poor blood from the body and return the blood to the heart.]
Systolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries during ventricular systole; it is the highest
pressure in the arteries
Diastolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries during diastole; it is lower than systolic pressure
A pulse is the rhythmic bulging of artery walls with each heartbeat
Regulation of Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is determined by cardiac output and peripheral resistance due to constriction of
arterioles
Vasoconstriction is the contraction of smooth muscle in arteriole walls; it increases blood
pressure
Vasodilation is the relaxation of smooth muscles in the arterioles; it causes blood pressure to fall
Blood pressure is generally measured for an artery in the arm at the same height as the heart
Blood pressure for a healthy 20 year old at rest is 120 mm Hg at systole and 70/80 mm Hg at
diastole

Biology

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Biology

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The heart is a hollow muscular organ located at the thoracic cavity.

This organ pumps blood

Parts of the Heart

Blood flow through the heart

Arteries, veins and capillaries

Regulation of Blood Pressure

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